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United States Patent |
6,152,528
|
van Montfort
|
November 28, 2000
|
Child's seat
Abstract
A child's seat (1) comprising a seat portion and a back portion, which
child's seat can be secured in a vehicle by means of a three-point seat
belt present in the vehicle. The three-point seat belt (21) is connected
to the vehicle with a first end (40) and with a second end (41), and can
be detachably secured to a belt buckle (43) provided in the vehicle by
means of a belt tongue (42) provided between the ends. In the mounted
position of the child's seat in the vehicle, the first end of the belt
(40) is positioned near the side of the back portion remote from the seat
portion, the second end is positioned under the first end, near the seat
portion, and the belt tongue (42) connected to the belt buckle (43) is
positioned on a side of the seat portion remote from the second end. The
child's seat is provided near the side of the back portion remote from the
seat portion with at least one clamping device (5) comprising a housing
and a tightening device (13) positioned within the housing, by a belt
portion extending between the belt tongue (42) and the first end (40) can
be tightened in a tightening direction away from the back portion and be
locked against movement with respect to the clamping device in a locking
direction opposed to the tightening direction. The housing comprises at
least two parts (6,8) which are capable of pivoting movement about a pivot
pin (7) with respect to each other. The parts (6,8) are capable of
releasable interlocking engagement and which are provided on a side remote
from the pivot pin with interlocking closing elements (9,12), whereby the
parts are capable of pivoting movement with respect to each other from a
first position, in which the belt portion extending between the belt
tongue (42) and the first end (40) can be positioned between the two parts
to a second position in which the belt portion is retained between the
parts and the belt portion present in the clamping device is undetachably
connected to the clamping device, and vice versa.
Inventors:
|
van Montfort; Donald Hendrikus (Herkenbosch, NL)
|
Assignee:
|
Maxi Miliaan B.V. (NL)
|
Appl. No.:
|
230787 |
Filed:
|
September 27, 1999 |
PCT Filed:
|
August 6, 1997
|
PCT NO:
|
PCT/NL97/00456
|
371 Date:
|
September 27, 1999
|
102(e) Date:
|
September 27, 1999
|
PCT PUB.NO.:
|
WO98/06289 |
PCT PUB. Date:
|
February 19, 1998 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Sep 08, 1996[NL] | 1 003 774 |
Current U.S. Class: |
297/250.1; 297/256.13 |
Intern'l Class: |
A47D 001/10; B60N 002/28 |
Field of Search: |
297/250.1,256.13,256.16
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1340303 | May., 1920 | Sterne.
| |
2807067 | Sep., 1957 | Bayon.
| |
5458398 | Oct., 1995 | Meeker et al. | 297/250.
|
5567007 | Oct., 1996 | Czernakowski et al. | 297/250.
|
5611596 | Mar., 1997 | Barley et al. | 297/256.
|
5671971 | Sep., 1997 | Koyanagi et al. | 297/250.
|
5695243 | Dec., 1997 | Anthony et al. | 297/250.
|
5954397 | Sep., 1999 | Czernakowski et al. | 297/250.
|
5957531 | Sep., 1999 | Kane et al. | 297/250.
|
5979982 | Nov., 1999 | Nakagawa | 297/250.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
947110A | Jan., 1966 | GB.
| |
2262025A | Jun., 1993 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Cuomo; Peter M.
Assistant Examiner: White; Rodney B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A child's seat comprising a seat portion and a back portion, which
child's seat can be secured in a vehicle by means of a three-point seat
belt present in said vehicle, which three-point seat belt is connected to
the vehicle with a first end and with a second end and which can be
detachably secured to a belt buckle provided in said vehicle by means of a
belt tongue provided between said ends, whereby in the mounted position of
the child's seat in the vehicle, the first end of the belt is positioned
near an upper side of said back portion, the second end is positioned
under the first end, near the seat portion, and the belt tongue connected
to the belt buckle is positioned on a side of said seat portion remote
from said second end, whereby the child's seat near the upper side of the
back portion is provided with at least one clamping device comprising a
housing and a tightening device positioned within said housing, by means
of which a belt portion extending between said belt tongue and said first
end can be pulled in a tightening direction away from said back portion
and be locked against movement with respect to the clamping device in a
locking direction opposed to said tightening direction, said tightening
device is provided with a locking pin oriented transversely to the belt,
which locking pin can be coupled to the belt, whereby said locking pin is
capable of movement in and opposed to the tightening direction, and in a
direction away from the belt, transversely thereto, characterized in that
the housing comprises a first and a second part which are capable of
pivoting movement with respect to each other about a pivot pin extending
transversely to said locking pin, which parts are capable of releasable
interlocking pin, which parts are capable of releasable interlocking
engagement and which are provided on a side remote from said pivot pin
with interlocking closing elements, whereby said parts are capable of
pivoting movement with respect to each other from a first position, in
which the belt portion extending between said belt tongue and said first
end can be positioned between said two parts, to a second position, in
which said belt portion is retained between said parts and the belt
portion present in said clamping device is undetachably connected to the
clamping device, and vice versa, whereby opposite ends of said locking pin
are slidably journalled in slots provided in the first part and extending
at an angle to the belt, whereby ends of said slots facing the
longitudinal side of said back portion are positioned further away from
said second part than ends of said slots facing the center of said back
portion.
2. A child's seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping
device is capable of movement from a first longitudinal side of the back
portion, which extends transversely to the seat portion, to a second
longitudinal side of the back portion, whereby the clamping device is
capable of pivoting movement with respect to the child's seat, in such a
manner that the tightening direction is directed away from the child's
seat on both longitudinal sides.
3. A child's seat comprising a seat portion and a back portion, which
child's seat can be secured in a vehicle by means of a three-point seat
belt present in said vehicle, which three-point seat belt is connected to
the vehicle with a first end and with a second end and which can be
detachable secured to a belt buckle provided in said vehicle by means of a
belt tongue provided between said ends, whereby in the mounted position of
the child's seat in the vehicle the first end of the belt is positioned
near an upper side of said back portion, the second end is positioned
under the first end, near the seat portion, and the belt tongue connected
to the belt buckle is positioned on a side of said seat portion remote
from said second end, whereby the child's seat near the upper side of the
back portion is provided with at least one clamping device comprising a
housing and a tightening device positioned within said housing, by means
of which a bell portion extending between said belt tongue and said first
end can be pulled in a tightening direction away from said back portion
and be locked against movement with respect to the clamping device in a
locking direction opposed to said tightening direction, characterized in
that the housing comprises a first and a second part which are capable of
pivoting movement with respect to each other about a pivot pin extending
transversely to said locking pin, which parts are capable of releasable
interlocking engagement and which are provided on a side remote from said
pivot pin with interlocking closing elements, whereby said parts are
capable of pivoting movement with respect to each other from a first
position, in which the belt portion extending between said belt tongue and
said first end can be positioned between said two parts, to a second
position, in which said belt portion is retained between said parts and
the belt portion present in said clamping device is undetachably connected
to the clamping device, and vice versa, whereby the first part comprises a
C-shaped part oriented transversely to the belt, which is provided with
two flanges extending toward each other, whereby the belt can be
positioned in said C-shaped part through said flanges, whilst the second
part is pivoted in a direction parallel to said C-shaped part, capable of
being locked to said first part on either side of the belt with a side
remote from said pivot pin, whereby said belt surrounds said C-shaped part
and said second part in the shape of an "S" during use.
4. A child's seat according to claim 2, characterized in that the clamping
device is capable of movement from a first longitudinal side of the back
portion, which extends transversely to the seat portion, to a second
longitudinal side of the back portion, whereby the clamping device is
capable of pivoting movement with respect to the child's seat, in such a
manner that the tightening direction is directed away from the child's
seat on both longitudinal sides.
Description
The invention relates to a child's seat comprising a seat portion and a
back portion, which child's seat can be secured in a vehicle by means of a
three-point seat belt present in said vehicle, which three-point seat belt
is connected to the vehicle with a first end and with a second end and
which can be detachably secured to a belt buckle provided in said vehicle
by means of a belt tongue provided between said ends, whereby in the
mounted position of the child's seat in the vehicle the first end of the
belt is positioned near an upper side of said back portion, the second end
is positioned under the first end, near the seat portion, and the belt
tongue connected to the belt buckle is positioned on a side of said seat
portion remote from said second end, whereby the child's seat near the
upper side of the back portion is provided with at least one clamping
device comprising a housing and a tightening device positioned within said
housing, by means of which a belt portion extending between said belt
tongue and said first end can be pulled in a tightening direction away
from said back portion and be locked against movement with respect to the
clamping device in a locking direction opposed to said tightening
direction, said tightening device is provided with a locking pin extending
in the transverse direction of the belt, which locking pin can be coupled
to the belt, whereby said locking pin is capable of movement in and
opposed to the tightening direction, and in a direction away from the
belt, transversally thereto.
With a similar child's seat known from British Patent Application
GB-A-2,288,202 the child's seat is secured in the car by means of a
three-point seat belt present in the car. The belt is thereby connected to
a belt buckle present in the car by means of a belt tongue. The
three-point belt is connected to the car with both ends and consequently
must be introduced into the clamping device in a direction transversely to
the longitudinal direction of the belt. The shoulder belt is thereby
guided into the clamping device secured to the child's seat, for example,
and subsequently tightened in a desired tightening direction.
The belt must be locked against movement in the clamping device in a second
locking direction opposed to said first direction, in order to prevent
undesirable movement of the child's seat with respect to the belt. The
child's seat can be taken out of the car by removing the belt from the
buckle and from the clamp.
The clamping device known from British Patent Application GB-A-2,288,202,
is provided with a C-shaped part comprising a baseplate and two flanges
extending towards each other. A tightening device is located between said
baseplate and said flanges. The belt is introduced into the C-shaped part
through the flanges, so that the belt will be positioned between the
tightening device and the flanges. The belt is capable of movement in a
first tightening direction whilst being locked against movement in a
second locking direction. When the clamping device is used for securing a
child's seat in a car, forces will also be exerted on the belt and on the
clamping device in directions transversely to the belt in the event of an
accident or a collision.
One drawback of the known device is the fact that when such forces occur,
the C-shaped part can bend open relatively easily, as a result of which
the belt will move out of the C-shaped part and the child's seat will no
longer be connected to the car. This is undesirable, cf course. Another
drawback is the fact that the C-shaped part is relatively weak, as a
result of which the tightening force exerted on the belt will vary.
Another drawback of the known device is the fact that the locking pin is
mounted in a frame which is secured in the housing. Due to the additional
frame the clamping device is relatively thick and relatively complicated
to manufacture.
The object of the invention is to provide a child's seat when the drawbacks
are avoided.
This object is accomplished in the child's seat according to the invention
in that the housing comprises a first and a second part which are capable
of pivoting movement with respect to each other about a pivot pin
extending transversally to said locking pin, which parts are capable of
releasable interlocking engagement and which are provided on a side remote
from said pivot pin with interlocking closing elements, whereby said parts
are capable of pivoting movement with respect to each other from a first
position, in which the belt portion extending between said belt tongue and
said first end can be positioned between said two parts, to a second
position, in which said belt portion is retained between said parts and
the belt portion present in said clamping device is undetachably connected
to the clamping device, and vice versa, whereby the two ends of said
locking pin are slidably journalled in slots provided ir the first part
and extending at an angle to the belt, whereby the ends of said slots
facing the longitudinal side of said back portion are positioned further
away from said second part than the ends of said slots facing the centre
of said back portion.
Because the clamping device is capable of being closed, the forces which
are allowed to be exerted on the closed clamping device are relatively
large. Thus it is ensured that the child's seat is securely connected to
the car by means of the clamping device and the belt. The belt can be
easily removed from the clamping device by unlocking the clamping device,
after which the belt is detached from the belt buckle and the child's seat
can be take out of the car.
Due to the presence of the two parts being movable with respect to each
other the clamping device can be opened and closed in a relatively simple
manner.
Due to the slots in which ends of the locking pin are slidably journalled,
the clamping device is relatively compact and easily to manufacture.
The belt can be tightened in a simple manner by means of such a locking
pin, whilst at the same time ensuring that the belt is locked in the
second direction. Because the second part is laid over the belt after
positioning the belt against the first part, and is connected to the first
part on a side remote from the pivot pin, a closed construction
surrounding the belt in transverse direction is obtained, which
construction is relatively strong and rigid.
It is noted that from U.S. Pat. No. 1,340,303 a buckle is known which is
connected to one end of a belt and in which another end of said belt is
capable of movement in a tightening direction. Such a buckle is not
intended nor dimensioned for tightening a child's seat by means of a
three-point seat belt provided in a car.
The objective of the invention is also accomplished in a child's seat
according to the invention in that the housing comprises a first and a
second part which are capable of pivoting movement with respect to each
other about a pivot pin extending transversally to said locking pin, which
parts are capable of releasable interlocking engagement and which are
provided on a side remote from said pivot pin with interlocking closing
elements, whereby said parts are capable of pivoting movement with respect
to each other from a first position, in which the belt portion extending
between said belt tongue and said first end can be positioned between said
two parts, to a second position, in which said belt portion is retained
between said parts and the belt portion present in said clamping device is
undetachably connected to the clamping device, and vice versa, whereby the
first part comprises a C-shaped part extending in the transverse direction
of the belt, which is provided with two flanges extending toward each
other, whereby the belt can be positioned in said C-shaped part through
said flanges, whilst the second part is pivoted to said first part by
means of said pivot pin extending in a direction parallel to said C-shaped
part, capable of being locked to said first part on either side of the
belt with a side remote from said pivot pin, whereby said belt surrounds
said C-shaped part and said second part in the shape of an S during use.
This results in a clamping device which is comparable with tightening
devices which are known per se, for example for tightening rucksack belts.
With such known tightening devices it is not possible, however, to
introduce the belt into the clamping device in a direction transversely to
the longitudinal direction of the belt, which renders the known clamping
device unsuitable for being used to secure a child's seat in a car.
One embodiment of the child's seat according to the invention is
characterized in that the clamping device is capable of Movement from a
first longitudinal side of the back part, which extends transversely to
the seat part, to a second longitudinal side of the back part, whereby the
clamping part is capable of pivoting movement with respect to the child's
seat, in such a manner that the tightening direction is directed away from
the child's seat on both longitudinal sides.
In this manner the child's seat only needs to be provided with a single
clamping device, which, depending on the desired position of the clamping
device with respect to the child's seat, is positioned near either one of
the longitudinal sides of the child's seat. Because the clamping device is
also pivoted while being moved from one longitudinal side to the other,
the tightening direction will remain directed away from the child's seat.
Another embodiment of the child's seat according to the invention is
characterized in that the first part comprises a C-shaped part extending
in the transverse direction of the belt, which is provided with two
flanges extending toward each other, whereby the belt can be positioned in
said C-shaped part through said flanges, whilst the second part is pivoted
to said first part by means of a pivot pin extending in a direction
parallel to said C-shaped part, capable of being locked to said first part
on either side of the belt on a side remote from said pivot pin, whereby
said belt surrounds said C-shaped part and said second part in the shape
of an S during use.
This results in a clamping device which is comparable with tightening
devices which are known per se, for example for tightening rucksack belts.
With such known tightening devices it is not possible, however, to
introduce the belt into the clamping device in a direction transversely to
the longitudinal direction of the belt, which renders the known clamping
device unsuitable for being used to secure a child's seat in a car.
The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to
a drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a child's seat according to the invention, which is provided
with a clamping device;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a clamping device
according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second clamping device according to the
invention, in an open position thereof;
FIG. 4 shows the clamping device shown in FIG. 3, in a closed position
thereof;
FIGS. 5A and 5B each show an embodiment of the child's seat according to
the invention comprising a movable and pivotal clamping device, with the
clamping device positioned on the right-hand side and on the left-hand
side respectively.
Like parts are numbered alike in the Figures.
FIG. 1 shows a child's car seat 1 comprising a seat bucket 2 and a support
3 supporting said seat bucket 2. When child's seat 1 is being placed in a
car (not shown), a three-point seat belt, which is known per se, is passed
between seat bucket 2 and support 3 and subsequently connected to a belt
buckle present in the car. The child's seat is provided on a back part 4
of support 3 with two clamping devices 5 positioned on either side of back
part 4. The shoulder belt of the car is passed through one of the clamping
devices 5, as will be explained in more detail hereafter.
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a clamping device 5 of a child's seat
according to the invention, which comprises a first part 6 and a second
part 8, which is pivoted to said first part by means of a pivot pin 7.
First part 6 is provided with a locking lip 9 on a side remote from pivot
pin 7, which locking lip is capable of pivoting movement about a pivot pin
10 extending parallel to pivot pin 7. Locking lip 9 is provided with a
recess 11. Second part 8 is provided with a tongue 12 on a side remote
from pivot pin 7. The first part is provided with a tightening device 13,
which comprises a locking pin 15 provided with teeth 14, which is
journalled with two circular ends 16 in two parallel slots 17.
Slots 17 include an obtuse angle .alpha. with a belt supporting plate 18 of
first part 6. Locking pin 15 is moved against the spring force of springs
19 positioned within slots 17, in a direction indicated by arrow P1.
Movement of locking pin 15 in a direction opposed to arrow P1 is limited
by two lips 20. The operation of clamping device 5 is as follows. In a
position shown in FIG. 2 shoulder belt 21 is placed against belt
supporting plate 18, after which second part 8 is pivoted in a direction
indicated by arrow P2 and positioned parallel to first part 6. Then lip 9
is pivoted in a direction indicated by arrow P3, whereby recess 11
encloses tongue 12 and belt 21 is retained by the housing made up of first
part 6, second part 8 and lip 9. Belt 21 thereby abuts against locking pin
15, with teeth 14 engaging belt 21. When a force is exerted on belt 21 in
the direction indicated by arrow P4, locking pin 15 will be moved in a
direction away from arrow P1, whereby teeth 14 of locking pin 15 will be
pressed further into the belt, preventing belt 21 from moving in the
direction indicated by arrow P4. When a force is exerted on belt 21 in the
direction indicated by arrow PS, locking pin 15 will be moved in a
direction indicated by arrow P1 against the spring force of springs 19, as
a result of which teeth 14 will be detached from belt 21 and belt 21 will
be moved in the direction indicated by arrow P5. After the force being
exerted in the direction indicated by arrow P5 has been released, locking
pin 15 will be pressed against belt 21 again by springs 19.
It is noted that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 first part 6 is
connected to support 3. It will be apparent that it is also possible to
connect second part 8 to support 3.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a clamping device 5 of a child's seat
according to the invention, which comprises a first part 23 and a second
part 25, which is pivoted to said first part by means of pivot pin 24.
First part 23 comprises a C-shaped part 26, which is provided with two
flanges 27 directed towards each other. First part 23 is provided on a
side remote from pivot pin 24 with two hook-shaped elements 28, which are
provided with stop surfaces 29 on a side facing pivot pin 24. Second part
25 is provided on a side remote from pivot pin 24 with a roller beam 30
extending parallel to pivot pin 24, and two stop blocks 31 positioned on
either side of roller beam 30.
The operation of clamping device 5 is as follows.
In the position shown in FIG. 3 belt 21 is introduced into C-shaped part 26
through flanges 27, after which belt 21 extends about flanges 27. Then
second part 25 is pivoted about pivot pin 24 in a direction indicated by
arrow P9. Stop blocks 31 come into engagement with sloping surfaces 32 of
elements 28 thereby, as a result of which elements 28 will be pivoted in a
direction indicated by arrow P6. Elements 28 are made of a bendable
material for this purpose. Second part 25 is moved into the direction
indicated by arrow P9 until stop blocks 31 abut against stop surfaces 29.
The spring force of the material has thereby caused elements 28 to move in
a direction opposed to the direction indicated by arrow P6, back to their
original position. The moment the stop blocks 31 abut against the stop
surfaces 29 a housing made up of first element 23 and second element 25
will be closed. Then the left-hand part 33, seen in FIG. 3, of belt 21
will be laid over roller beam 30 of second part 25, as is shown in FIG. 4.
First part 23 is provided with an upright edge 34 extending parallel to
pivot pin 24, over which the right-hand part 35 of belt 21 extends.
In the closed position of clamping device 5 shown in FIG. 4 belt 21 extends
in the shape of an S in the housing made up of said first and said second
part. If a force is exerted on part 35 of belt 21 in a direction indicated
by arrow P7, no movement of belt 21 will take place in that direction. If
a force is exerted on belt 21 in a direction P8 opposed to the direction
indicated by arrow P7, there will be a movement of belt 21 in the
direction indicated by arrow P8. The reason why movement in the direction
indicated by arrow P8 is possible, whereas movement of belt 21 in the
direction indicated by arrow P7 is not possible, is to be found in the
presence of belt parts 33, 35, which are passed over flanges 27 and which
abut against each other between roller beam 30 and upright edge 34. The
operation of the tightening device made up of first part 23 and second
part 25 corresponds with that of tightening devices as they are inter alia
known from the tightening of rucksack belts, and consequently will not be
discussed in more detail herein.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show a child's seat and details of said child's seat
respectively, comprising a clamping device positioned on the right-hand
side and one on the left-hand side respectively.
With the child's seat 1 shown in FIG. 5A clamping device 5 is positioned
near the right-hand longitudinal side of child's seat 1. Belt 21 is
connected to the vehicle with a first end 40 and a second end 41. Belt 21
is furthermore provided with a belt tongue 42 present between said first
and said second end 40, 41, which belt tongue can be detachably connected
to a belt buckle 43 provided in the vehicle. Child's seat 1 is provided
with a clamping device 5 shown in FIG. 2, which is present near the
right-hand longitudinal side of child's seat 1. Clamping device 5 can be
moved and simultaneously be pivoted in the direction indicated by arrow
P10 towards the left-hand side of child's seat 1.
In the mounted position of child's seat 1 in the vehicle a belt portion 44
present between belt tongue 42 and first end 40 extends through clamping
device 5. Belt portion 44 can be tightened in the tightening direction
indicated by arrow P5, away from child's seat 1, whilst belt portion 44 is
locked against movement in a direction opposed to direction P5.
If child's seat 1 is mounted at another location in the vehicle, whereby
first end 40 and second end 41 are positioned on the left-hand side of the
child's seat, clamping device 5 will be moved and pivoted in the direction
indicated by arrow P10, so that clamping device 5 will likewise be
positioned near the left-hand side of child's seat 1, as shown in FIG. 5B.
Following that the child's seat can be secured in the vehicle by means of
belt 21. In this manner the child's seat only needs to be provided with a
single clamping device.
In the clamping device shown in FIG. 2 pivot pin 7 Extends parallel to the
longitudinal direction of belt 21, whilst in the clamping device shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 pivot pin 24 extends transversely to the longitudinal
direction of belt 21. With both clamping devices the belt is retained in
the housing formed by the two parts after the two parts have been pivoted
in opposite directions and have subsequently been locked in position.
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